A tribute to June Barclay

One year ago today, one of the sweetest people who ever lived breathed her last breath. In her memory, I’m re-posting something I wrote about her back in 2002. She had a framed copy of it on her wall when she passed away.

A Very Special Lady

They got married just before he went overseas to do his part in World War II. She hoped to become pregnant before his departure, but this was not to be, nor did it happen in the years following his return.

They went to the local Children’s Aid Society to inquire about adoption, and not long afterwards their home was blessed with both a daughter and a son. A few years later, they decided they wanted a larger family, and returned to the CAS, only to be told that they could not adopt any more children as they already had two. Her husband was very persuasive, however, and they were allowed to adopt another boy, and then another girl.

She was a wonderful mother, staying at home to care for her family and their house, as most mothers did in those days. She must have been extra special though, because the local newspaper named her ‘Mother of the Year’ and featured an article about her and her adopted family.

As her children grew up, she watched them marry and delighted in the addition of nine grandchildren and two great-grandchildren to her happy family.

Life is not always kind, however, and she was sad to see the marriages of two of her children end. Nothing could compare, however, to her grief when her elder son died unexpectedly.

As she approaches her 80th birthday, no one who has met this lady can dispute that she is a warm, loving, and talented individual who still finds much pleasure in knitting, baking cookies, and embroidering pictures for her husband, her children, her grandchildren, her great-grandchildren, and her daughters- and sons-in-law. It is truly a privilege for me to be a part of her family, and my life is richer for it.